Healthy body and healthy mind so they say. For me, the healthy body element is just a pipe dream (I lack the internal organs to be fighting fit) but that said, I have over the years managed to replace this mantra with 'smell nice, feel nice' and it's hard to refute that when you smell good or smell something wonderful you get an uplifting feeling - call it that warm fuzzy glow! With that in mind, scented candles have been all the rage in our house for some time. In the past I've dodged candles but when my other half presented me with the Samarkand Luxury Candle by Timothy Dunn London I couldn't wait to torch it and feel all warm and fuzzy.
My inner-arsonist was put back in his box and I managed to resist the temptation to just let it blaze away after seeing that this candle costs nearly £50, yes, £50 for a candle and never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever see myself recommending parting with that kind of cash just to see it melt before your eyes, but here we are people, here we are.
This is what they say about the candle over at Timothy Dunn website here:
'One of our most popular home fragrances, the luxurious Samarkand scented candle was born out of a desire to recreate the essence of Samarkand’s ancient architecture, its diverse cultures, lush, beautiful gardens and, of course, the lavish silks and flavoursome spices that still flood through this extraordinary city.
Discover a rich, sensual spicy wood accord with exotic tea, bergamot, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and clove; generously wrapped in sumptuous Madagascan vanilla, suede musks, frankincense, patchouli and vetiver. This beautiful, evocative fragrance will radiate warmth throughout your home.'
First of all, this baby is no flash in the pan candle that will be gone faster than you can say "£50 up in smoke" as it has a burn time of some sixty, yes sixty hours. The candle has been burning away on and off for most of the weekend it's hardly made a dent in the wax yet it has released quite possibly one of the richest most fabulous fragrances since the last time I bought a bottle of Creed aftershave! It's divine to be blunt and this is where it really made me stop and think that actually, this is worth the price.
I'm a massive fan of bergamot, musks and patchouli and within 3-4 minutes of lighting you start to get subtle hints of the fragrances in the air. After ten minutes the air is awash with the lovely fragrance - think a warm spice with a hint of sweetness and you are close. Unlike some other candles (I'm looking at you Yankee) you don't get that build up of the fragrance (loose term) in the back of your throat that I seem to struggle with if in a room with lit fragranced candles. For that I am truly grateful. After extinguishing the candle the fragrance stays in the room for ages afterwards - it really is nice after popping out to return home to be greeted by the slowly fading notes from the candle. I really have sat in a room where this candle has burned away and felt far more relaxed, calm and generally at ease with the world (I can be a touch highly strung) - good smells are good for your mental health (well mine anyway).
Yes, £46 is a lot for a candle but if you are a fan of subtle yet manly fragrances you'll really like this, and it'll last for an absolute age. It has worked wonders when helping me to relax in the evening after a long day and I for one wouldn't be without it now and it has resulted in me considering firing up some of the other Timothy Dunn candles the other half has floating around. I'm loathe to say this because it seems so cliched, but there is a reassuring quality to this candle and it would make a great gift at any time of the year.
